We
held our 40th reunion over the weekend of November 13-15. Festivities began Friday evening at 7 pm at Sunshine Hawkins Bishopric's home on
Glovenia Street. When I arrived, on time, the street was already crowded with cars parked
on both sides. Sunshine's house was filled to overflowing with what seem like a thousand
conversations going at the same time. Most of us had quite a challenging experience
identifying each other, since our last reunion was 20 years ago. For some, 40 years had
elapsed. The party lasted until after 10 pm. That was the shortest 3 hours I ever spent.
Saturday was a gray, cool day. About 20
of us met Saturday afternoon at the Country Club to help make
the final preparations for the party. Although we pretended to work a little, the
organizers had already done 99.9% of the work. The occasion proved to be a great way to
extend our time together, and we gladly took advantage of it. We took photos and marveled
at Jimmy Johnson's '58 Chevy truck.
The party began at 6 pm Saturday evening at the Country Club, and once again being on time
meant being late. If nothing else, our class is super-punctual, or more likely, just eager
to get started. Drinks and socializing began in the basement of the Club for about 45
minutes, followed by the class portrait taken on the Club's
front steps. The photographer must have taken 200 photos, as he tried to corral us into a
tighter group. Afterwards we rejoined our spouses and found a seat for dinner. Class
president Jimmy Goldston welcomed us with some introductory remarks. Lib Smith Roberson
and Sunshine participated with a prayer and a poem, respectively.
Priscilla Berry Hodges
led us in singing the class song, "Dear Morehead High", which she wrote. One
table at a time, we went through the buffet line. Dancing and more socializing began about
9 pm.
Sunday dawned a beautiful day. A Sunday morning breakfast at Fuzzy's was the final event of our
fantastic reunion weekend. I missed this event due to an early flight back to Florida.
Reports were that over 60 people arrived at the restaurant, which had been told to expect
about 30. Once again, our class enthusiasm and spirit exceeded the wildest expectations.
The breakfast lasted for some until 10:30, as classmates table-hopped and did some last
minute visiting.
For us, the Class of 1958, this
was truly a Hall Of Fame weekend - one of those experiences we have only a few times
during our lives. For that we have to thank not only our class organizers who planned and
did the work, but also ourselves, who made the effort to attend. The most interesting
reactions came from non-class members. One spouse said he had more fun at our reunion than
at his own high school reunion. Another said she was not really keen on coming, but
afterwards was looking forward to the next one. Still another described the weekend as
like being in a time-warp, or being in a movie.
-Joe Eggleston